Montgomery County Sheriff's department arrests 10 who owe child support in overnight sweep

COURTHOUSE — The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department announced Wednesday the arrest of 10 parents who owe child support in a sweep that began Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning.

After their arrest, the nine men and one woman were seen by common pleas Judge Rhonda Lee Daniele, who ordered them to pay a total of $14,000 to be released.

“The sheriff’s office will continue to conduct unannounced roundups to increase the pressure on these parents,” Sheriff Russell Bono said. “I would encourage all of those on the list to come forward and to make arrangements to pay down their debt.”

Five of those arrested were allowed to go home without paying their purge amounts because their cases were either resolved or continued. The highest amount of money owed by one individual was $25,017.41. That case was either resolved or continued, and the sheriff’s department did not release the parent’s name.

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Fontaine Bighims, of the 200 block of Chestnut Street in Norristown, owed $2075.26 in arrears, according to the sheriff’s department. William Durkin, of the first block of Dogwood Lane in Horsham, owed $4529.79. Peter Pomerantz, of the 500 block of Spring Avenue in Elkins Park, owed $10,549.11. Lance Perkins, of the 2700 block of Beech Street in Hatfield, owed $3,580, and Lisai Allebach, of the 1600 block of Stevie Lane, owed $3449.61.

The total money owed in child support by the 10 parents was $67,285.07.

The purge amount is a base amount that needs to be paid before a defendant can be released from prison.

“Once again we want to express our thanks to the domestic relations office for their support in our effort to apprehend those individuals who have failed in their responsibilities to support their children,” said Bono. “I would also like to thank common pleas Judge Rhonda Daniele who arraigned all of those individuals arrested today.”

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department relies on the public’s assistance to help find parents who have bench warrants against them for failing to pay child support. A bench warrant is issued when a delinquent parent does not show up for a scheduled court date to find a way to resolve a payment issue.

The domestic relations most wanted for child support list can be found at www.montcopa.org/sheriff by clicking on “Wanted Persons.” If you recognize someone on the most wanted list, contact the sheriff’s department at 610-278-3340.